Google Glass going mainstream with Oakley, Ray-Ban

Updated 6:02 pm, Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Google Glass will get fashionable designs from Luxottica, maker of Oakley and Ray-Ban brands.

Google Glass will get fashionable designs from Luxottica, maker of Oakley and Ray-Ban brands.

Photo: John Minchillo, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Google Glass going mainstream with Oakley, Ray-Ban

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Google Inc. will work with Luxottica Group, which owns eyewear brands Ray-Ban and Oakley, to help the Web company's Glass eyewear go mainstream.

Luxottica is setting up teams focused on design, development, tooling and engineering of products, the world's largest maker of eyeglasses said this week. Google's Glass technology combines a tiny screen, camera and audio on a small device that's worn at eye level.

Google, seeking new ways to get people to use its services on mobile devices, has been stepping up efforts to show how Glass can appeal to a wide audience. While the gadget has received a lot of media attention, it's also faced challenges, including criticism for its ability to record images or distract users. The Mountain View company said it plans to release mainstream versions "down the road."

The Ray-Ban and Oakley brands will be included in the collaboration with Google Glass, the companies said.

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